A bridge too far from being done

September 28, 2011 - 1:00 am

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I truly feel for residents in the southwest corner of the valley. When the Warm Springs bridge over Interstate 15 was demolished early this year, so was their easy access to the east side of the valley. The Sunset bridge opened, but that is not nearly as convenient, and it stops at Las Vegas Boulevard, so it really isn’t a speedy east-west arterial. A reader called last week and pointed out that the new bridge was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

I never see anybody working on the bridge and it doesn’t look like it’s close to being finished. Can you please shed some light on what is going on here and when this very important bridge will reopen?

According to Las Vegas Paving, which is handling the Interstate 15 south design-build project, crews are working on the retaining walls of the bridge. They are working on the east side of the freeway between Windy Road and I-15. Some design changes were made to the six-lane bridge, and those required acquisition of additional property near the bridge.

Las Vegas Paving is waiting for the new designs and the right-of-way approval before moving forward. The new completion date is February.

Speaking of I-15 overpasses, John was curious about this: What are the plans for the train tracks over the I-15 between Russell and Sunset roads? It appears the bridge will have to be made longer to accommodate the new road being built, but right now it looks like the roads will just end there. Is this something that will be done at the end?

Yes, John, the Union Pacific over-crossing will be lengthened to allow the new frontage roads to continue on. Crews are expected to start working on this portion of the project in mid-October. Just a reminder that this whole re-haul of Interstate 15 is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012.

Several readers have called recently asking this: What has happened to the work on Lone Mountain Road? Crews were working for a long time, but now lanes are still restricted but no work has been done for weeks.

First off, let me say that the following answer also applies to residents who have called about the work stoppage at Decatur Boulevard and Racel Street.

According to the city of Las Vegas, Spirit Underground, the contractor hired to install concrete storm drain boxes on Lone Mountain Road between Decatur and Torrey Pines Drive, ran out of money and has filed for bankruptcy. The same company was in charge of the project on Racel and Decatur.

The city has been working with the bonding company to resolve the problem and was recently told that Perini Construction will be taking over the jobs. The city was told that both projects will get started again within the next month.

Here is a message from your city councilman, Steve Ross: “I understand that this has been a great inconvenience to the residents that live and travel in these areas and I am working hard to get these projects completed.”

That’s great news, councilman, but how about removing some cones and allowing traffic to flow more smoothly in the meantime?

Greg asks: I read recently that the lawsuit was settled for the section of Interstate 215 between Decatur Boulevard and Tenaya Way. If this occurred, has a start date been given?

That is right, Greg, the lawsuit was settled, and Las Vegas Paving will do the job.

According to Jason Torres, the superintendant of the project, widening and repaving work is expected to start Nov. 1. You will see construction on that stretch for the following 30 months.

Thirty months? That’s what I said, but apparently this is an extensive project. Before crews even start the work on the Beltway, they have to remove 2 million yards of dirt.

They will widen the Beltway to three lanes in each direction, plus shoulders on either side. In addition to that, they will build full interchanges at Decatur and Jones boulevards and a flyover bridge over Bradley Road.

Las Vegas Paving also will install a flood control channel. The good news for residents in that area is that part of the project includes extending Centennial Parkway to Jones Boulevard.

• For the next six weeks, repaving work on Interstate 15 will cause round-the-clock lane closures between Tropicana Avenue and the Spaghetti Bowl. Work hours are 7 p.m. Sundays through 7 a.m. Thursdays.
• From 8 p.m. Sunday to 5:30 a.m. Thursday, expect lane closures on U.S. Highway 95 at Flamingo Road as improvements are made to the Flamingo overpass.
• For two months, lane restrictions will be in effect 24 hours a day on Rainbow Boulevard. Rainbow will be reduced to one lane between Gowan Road and Red Coach Avenue while crews repave the street. Alternate routes include Tenaya Way and Rancho Drive.
• For the next three weeks, expect delays on Ann Road between Durango Drive and Centennial Center Boulevard for resurfacing work.
• For the next eight months, the ramp from Las Vegas Boulevard South to northbound Interstate 15 will be closed 24 hours a day. Traffic will be detoured.
• For the next eight months, westbound Las Vegas Beltway traffic headed to northbound I-15 will be diverted to a temporary ramp about 1,500 feet west of the current ramp. The closures are to allow crews to work on bridges and walls in the area.
• Gowan Road between Rainbow Boulevard and Tenaya Way will remain closed until early November for the widening of U.S. Highway 95.

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